Gaia hypothesis – Uncommon Descent

A Darwinian tries to coopt the Gaia hypothesis

W. Ford Doolittle’s essay is worth a read. On reflection, if Darwinism weren’t failing, wouldn’t Darwinians just continue to scorn Gaia? Imagine them having to look for places to be now…

Artificial Intelligence Culture Ecology Intelligent Design

AI will save Gaia, says James Lovelock at nearly 100 years of age

The Gaia hypothesis started out as science, then discovered weed. But a digital Gaia movement for the 21st century will not, one suspects, be hippies. Maybe not as nice.

Intelligent Design

How life shaped Earth, with a hat tip to Lynn Margulis

Grinspoon argues that life helping shape Earth means that most planets will either be lush or dead. Maybe. David, find us one that isn’t dead and we promise to get back to you soon.

Ecology Fine tuning Intelligent Design

Gaia needs a reboot and New Scientist is here to explain

A machine built from scavenged parts from Britain’s Royal Air Force started randomly but ended in equilibrium. Can it boost the Gaia cult?

Human evolution Naturalism Religion

Gaia theory is now Gaia 2.0

Yes, everything is going high tech now, it seems. Intro of topic For around half a century, the ‘Gaia’ hypothesis has provided a unique way of understanding how life has persisted on Earth. It champions the idea that living organisms and their inorganic surroundings evolved together as a single, self-regulating system that has kept the Read More…

Darwinism Evolution Information Intelligent Design Naturalism

Gaia is back, and she has discovered Darwinism

The old Gaia asserts that living organisms and their inorganic surroundings have evolved together as a single living system that greatly affects the chemistry and conditions of Earth’s surface. Some scientists believe that this “Gaian system” self-regulates global temperature, atmospheric content, ocean salinity, and other factors in an “automatic” manner. Earth’s living system appears to Read More…

orthomyxo You made the comment on March 22nd, clearly referring to the whole world (and comparing tothe global impact of flu:... – Darwinian time trees don’t really work
PaV Orthomyxo: Please get your facts correct. I've already corrected you once. The estimate of 27,000 was based on the Chinese... – Darwinian time trees don’t really work
orthomyxo What a cast of characters, ET things vitD could have prevented the pandemic, PaV is unchastended after his prediction 27k... – Darwinian time trees don’t really work
Viola Lee Thank, JVL. I think letting these folks talk among themselves as much as possible is probably for the best. I... – An interview on God and mathematics
polistra It's tempting to speculate that "crossover" critters like this were able to crossover after a dose of HGT. Having a... – Australian lungfish has largest animal genome
JVL Kairosfocus: I have nothing more to say to you about mathematics and morals. Clearly you have not experienced higher level... – An interview on God and mathematics
JVL Viola Lee: Thanks for the encouragement. Love you really!! It's an odd thing . . . I consider myself a... – An interview on God and mathematics
kairosfocus JVL, Let's see, just your first sentence: >>That is not correct.>> - appeal to duty to truth, and also to... – An interview on God and mathematics
Viola Lee Thanks for the encouragement. – An interview on God and mathematics
JVL Viola Lee: Forget it, I say to myself. If you keep repeating it you might believe it one day! – An interview on God and mathematics
JVL Kairosfocus: why a proof, a particular type of warrant? Ans, because we are prone to error so we seek reliable... – An interview on God and mathematics
Viola Lee Forget it, I say to myself. – An interview on God and mathematics
martin_r off topic, but mentioning Retraction Watch, i like this one: "”Definitely embarrassing:” Nobel Laureate retracts non-reproducible paper in Nature journal"... – Why is Retraction Watch not what...
martin_r in regards to genome size, how many of you heard of C-number paradox ? (chromosome-number paradox) ? here is an... – Australian lungfish has largest animal genome
kairosfocus VL, that we can and do use canons of logic and warrant routinely is not at issue [see Copi's textbook... – An interview on God and mathematics
Viola Lee What you don't address is how human beings ares to use those to reach various judgments about real-world situations, and... – An interview on God and mathematics
Viola Lee KF, we accept that! You don't need to repeat it again. – An interview on God and mathematics
kairosfocus VL, sorry, I am not suggesting that someone here questions use of right reason. I am pointing out that we... – An interview on God and mathematics
Viola Lee Hi JVL. KF seems incapable of understanding that no one is questioning the use of right reason. He is very... – An interview on God and mathematics
kairosfocus JVL, I will again highlight how, yet again, your intended objection -- as is true of any reasoning -- inescapably... – An interview on God and mathematics
jerry It’s not clear if it was actually doneThank you for the warning about the study. I was unaware of Fleming's... – BREAKING: President Trump, Mrs Trump &...